Medan, Apostolic Vicariate of

MEDAN, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - It comprises the entire western part of the island of Sumatra (Indonesia). On June 30, 1911, the said island of Sumatra, together with the other adjacent islands, was detached from the apostolic vicariate of Batavia (today Djakarta) and erected as the apostolic prefecture of Sumatra, entrusted to the Franciscan Minor Capuchins of the Dutch province.

On Dec. 27, 1923, from the same prefecture of Sumatra the islands of Banka and Billiton were detached, together with the Riouve archipelago, for the erection of two prefectures, that of Banka and Billiton, on the islands of the same name, and that of Bengulen (today Palembang). The remaining territory, comprising the civil residencies of Atjeh, Sumatra, Tapanuli, Sumatra's Westkust, the minor islands and the district of Indragiri (Riouve archipelago), assumed the name of apostolic prefecture of Padang. On July 18, 1932, this mission was elevated to an apostolic vicariate, and on Dec. 23, 1941, it received its present name of apostolic vicariate of M. Father Dionigi della Natività and Brother Redento della Croce, both Carmelites, were the first missionaries to land on the island of Sumatra (year 1638). There they suffered martyrdom together with 59 other companions on Nov. 29, 1638, and were beatified in 1900. In the second half of the seventeenth century the Franciscans arrived there, and in 1703 the Theatines.

The inhabitants of this region belong to different peoples, each having its own language. The principal ones are: the Minangkabau in the southern part, the Atjeh in the northern part, the Malays in the eastern part, the Batak in the central part, and the Nias on the island of the same name. The Malay language, widespread in all the regions of Indonesia under the name of the Indonesian language, is the official language of the new Republic of Indonesia.

With regard to religion, except for the Batak and the Nias, they are all fanatical Mohammedans. The Batak and the Nias are partly Protestant, partly pagan, and many are inclined to the Catholic religion. The population of this mission is about 6,000,000, of whom 35,524 are Catholics, 5,000,000 Mohammedans; 400,000 pagans; 500,000 Protestants of Lutheran sects. There are 46 foreign priests; 17 foreign brothers; 82 foreign sisters; 6 minor seminarians; 44 catechists; 98 male teachers and 107 female teachers; 36 nurses; one hospital; 2 orphanages; 18 elementary schools; 6 middle schools; 6 vocational schools; one teachers' training college; 202 sacred buildings. A newspaper is published there under the title Kong Po, with a circulation of 1000 copies.

Edoardo Pecoraro